Beer-faucet



QN@ Model.)

E. A. BYRNE & J. Pv. LBNAHAN.

BEER PAUGET. No. 325,316. Patented Sept. l, '1885.

FIG.1.

` upper end of said tube UNITED STATES PATENT rrIeE.

EDVARD A. BYRNE AND JAMES P. LENAHAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BEER-FAUCET.

{LECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,316, dated September 1, 1885. Application filed June 18, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD A. BYRNE and .latins P. LENAHAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Beer- Faucets,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention comprises a novel construe tion of those faucets having air-inlets, and which are employed more especially for drawing off beer, ale, and other liquors from kegs and similar receptacles. Heretofore it has been customary to pass the air tube or inlet through the heel of the faucet and carry the almost to the top of the keg, so as to allow the air to act directly on the surface of the liquor, and thereby afford the proper ventage theinstant the faucet is opened. Practical experience, however, has demonstrated that this is a very defective arrangement, inasmuch aa the introduction of the air within the keg causes the beeror other liquor to become sour unless it is drawn off| quite rapidly; hence such faucets are not adapted for use in small saloons, the proprietors of which places of resort demand a faucet that will afford the necessary ventage, and yet will not canse their liquors to become dat and unsalable. To meet these requirements we have devised a faucet the heel of which has one or more lateral ports, while the inner end of said heel is closed, so as to prevent the liquor taking a direct central passage through the axial channel. Furthermore, the discharg ing end of the tube or inlet is located in the rear of these ports in order that the tlow of beer through the latter will cause a current of air to traverse said inlet and mingle With the liquor as it escapes from the faucet. By this arrangement the proper ventage is afforded, while at the same time there is no possibility oi' the air entering the keg or barrel, it being understood that the construction of the device is such as to allow the inlet to be opened only when the faucet-plug is so turned as to draw oif the liquor, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figurel is an axial section showing our improved faucet applied to a beer-keg, the plug of said faucet being opened to allow free flow of the liquor. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged axial sections of two modified forms of the faucet-heel. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the heel seen in Fig. 3, said section being taken at the line G 6. Fig. 5 is an axial section of a device that may be employed for regulating the flow of air into the inlettube of the faucet.

The faucetbarrel A, which may beef any suitable size and material, is provided with the customary channel or axial bore, B, and dischargenozzle C, near which latter is located the plug D, having a port, E, that com municates with channel B when said plug is properly turned. Furthermore, this plug has a secondary port, F, that affords a channel leading 'from an opening, G, of the barrel to the front end of an inlet tube or pipe, H, whose dischargingend is located within the heel I of the faucet. The extreme rear end of this heel is closed, so as to prevent. the liquor flowing directly into the channel B; but one or more lateral ports, J, are made through this heel into said channel or bore. These ports are located at some distance in front of the closed end of the heel, and the discharging extremity of the pipe or tube H terminates in the rear of said ports.

K is a solder or other air-tight joint made at the place Where the pipe H enters the faueet-heel.

L is the head of' a barrel or keg or other vessel for containing liquors on tap.

Then the heel I is properly inserted in the head L, and plug D turned around at right angles to the position seen in Fig. l, it is evident beer cannot escape from the faucet. Neither can air enter through it; but the instant said plug is turned so as to bring its port E in line with channel B the beer flows freely through the faucet and is discharged at nozzle C. Now, this turning of plug D brings its secondary port F in line with opening G and pipe H, thereby allowing air to traverse said pipe and be discharged near the closed end of heel I.

As the beer flows at a high velocity through the lateral ports J into the channel B, and as said ports are situated in front ofthe discharging end of pipe H, it is evident the advancing current of liquor drags the air from said pipe along toward the nozzle C. Consequently there is no possibility'of air escaping through the ICO )rts J and ascending within the keg, because is not sufiiciently powerful to oppose the quor iiowing through said ports. Although ie air does not enter the keg, yet the disnarge of beer from the faucet is as free and erfect as though the air were admitted above .ie liquor. In fact the discharge is in some ases so rapid as to necessitate the applicaion to the tube H of a cock, N, or its equivylent controlling device. Vhen a keg is rst apped, this cock is to be partially closed, so .s to admit a limited supply of air into the aucet; but as the liquor is drawn off said :ook is to be gradually opened for the purpose )f affording a more free ventage. The cock, iowever, may be dispensed with, and the ipening G may be threaded internally to rezeive a screw-plug, O. (Seen in Fig. 5.) This plug has a longitudinal groove or channel, P, :hat increases both in width and depth as it approaches the point of said plug, in order that the supply of air to the secondary port F may be increased in proportion as said plug is advanced, while its complete retraction will cffectually exclude air.

In the modification of the invention seen in Fig.. 2 the discharging end of the airtube H is shown bent upwardly, while a downward bend of the same is indicated by dotted lines; but in Fig. 3 a channel, H', is cast in the upper side ot' the faucet, which channel takes the place of the external pipe or tube, H. This channel opens into a chamber, It, ai the rear end of the faucetheel, a perforated head, S, serving to divide said chamber from the axial bore I5. T is a cap that may be either soldered or screwed onto the heel, so as to cover the chamber R. Furthermore, in this illustration the port J takes the shape of a longitudinal slot made in the lower side of the faucet, thereby enabling the keg to be completely emptied before air can enter it. This lnodiiied form of faucet operates in precisely the same manner as does the device seen in Fig. 1, the discharge of beer through the port J causing air to tra versc the perforation or perforations of head S, and thereby afford the desired ventage. Finally, an inclined barrier (indicated by the dotted lines U in Fig. 3) may project upwardly from the rear end of slot J, so as to deflect the current of air toward the top of the faucet, and thereby render it still more didieult for said current to flow back into the beer contained in the keg.

"We claim as our invention- 1. A faucet having one or more inlet-ports communicating with its main or discharge channel, and a Adevice for admitting air into said channel in the rear of said ports when the plug is opened, substantially as herein described.

2. A faucet having one or more inlet-ports communicating with its main or discharge channel, a device for admitting air into said channel in the rear of said ports when the plug is opened, and an independent appliance for controlling the ilow of air through said device, substantially as described.

3. A faucet having an inlet-port on its lower side communicating with the main or discharge channel and a device for admitting air into said channel in the rear of said port when the plug is opened, substantially as herein described. v

4. The combination of faucet A B C I, channeled plug D E F, opening G, and ainduct H, whose discharging end is located in the rear of inlet port or ports J, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of faucet A B C I, channeled plug D E F, opening G, and duct H, the latter being provided with an independent appliance for regulating the entrance of air and having its discharging end located in the rear of inlet port or ports J, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we our signatures in presence ot' two witnesses.

EDVARD A. BYRNE. JAMES P. LENAHAN.

W'itnesses:

J Aivrns H. LAYMAN, S. S. CARPENTER. 

